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- The South Asian heavyweights are playing at Dubai International Cricket Stadium as India refused to travel to Pakistan
- The screening at Punjab prisons is part of Prison Reforms Policy to make inmates better citizens, home department says
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Punjab province has arranged for screening of the much-anticipated India-Pakistan Champions Trophy match at 44 prisons across the province, the Punjab home department said on Sunday.
Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan won the toss and elected to bat in the blockbuster clash against India in Dubai on Sunday as his side looked to stay alive in the tournament.
Defending champions Pakistan lost the tournament opener to New Zealand and another defeat will virtually end their chances of making it to the semifinals.
Punjab Home Secretary Noorul Amin Mengal had directed the provincial prison authorities to make special arrangements for the screening of the match for inmates.
“Positive activities are being promoted to make prisoners better citizens under the Punjab chief minister’s Prison Reforms Policy,” the home department said in a statement.
“Special arrangements were also made in juvenile prisons for live broadcast of cricket matches. Children dressed in Pakistani cricket team uniforms enjoyed the match.”
The arch-rivals are playing at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium after India refused to travel to Pakistan to play their matches. The last time these two sides met in the Champions Trophy was back in 2017, when Pakistan beat India in the final by 180 runs in London.
Jail superintendents and senior officials were also watching the match along with prisoners in jails across Punjab.
“Under the Prison Reforms Policy, small and big industrial units and libraries have also been established in jails across Punjab to promote education and training,” the home department added.